tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post1822052304771602092..comments2024-03-29T09:14:53.583+00:00Comments on All That Is Solid ...: Some Reflections on the Leaders' DebatePhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298147857234479278noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-37174678060589151632010-05-01T10:29:10.593+01:002010-05-01T10:29:10.593+01:00You may think it has to stop, but now the geni is ...You may think it has to stop, but now the geni is out of the bottle it caan't be put back. We have to find a way of subverting it. I agree that if a Party said they wanted to put up a champion other parties would seek to capitalise on that, but if any party said they wouldn't take part they would do the same.<br /><br />I think that if a Party argued the case well in advance that elections are about thee elections of parties not leaders, that leaders debates are only appropriate if their is a Presidential System, that the function of a Leader is far more impportant and wide ranging than just being able to stand on a podium for 90 minutes in a beauty contest, and that therefore, the Party should have the right to choose who it felt could best fulfil that function, that in itself would be a means of arguing against the Cowellisation. Once a party had done it, the name calling would lose its effect.Boffyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08157650969929097569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-46338025567833863522010-04-30T18:00:03.814+01:002010-04-30T18:00:03.814+01:00The idea of putting forward a champion is a non st...The idea of putting forward a champion is a non starter, the other parties would then question the capability of the leader. They would say he was unfit for purpose.<br />No party would take the first step. So if we are to have these wretched debates then the main ones will be the leaders debates. After all it is the TV companies who pressed for these debates and they will demand leaders debates.<br /><br />This Cowellisation of society just has to stop!Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-14877051899479958662010-04-30T17:15:43.533+01:002010-04-30T17:15:43.533+01:00I make no secret of the fact that I didn't lik...I make no secret of the fact that I didn't like the idea of these ebates, because they would be "beauty contests". But, they are now a fact of life. We have to try to see how we can subvert them, and use them to our advantage.<br /><br />For one thing, they open the possibility of demanding wider, more frequent debates. There have been TV debates all over the country, but they have been on the Parliament Channel at times when no one would watch. But, that just means demanding they be held at more mainstream times on mainstream TV.<br /><br />Also, if its to be reduced to a beauty contest why should not each Party choose its "Champion" as the medieval knights used to do, so that instead of it being made presidential control is kept with the party who select the representative they think can best portary the Parties policies.<br /><br />It was interesting on "This week" where I think it was Portillo who said that he foresaw a lot of confusion as people came to vote, and couldn't find the names Brown, Clegg or Cameron on the ballot paper!Boffyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08157650969929097569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-40707424080588989452010-04-30T14:16:29.672+01:002010-04-30T14:16:29.672+01:00"The era of politics being showbiz for ugly p..."The era of politics being showbiz for ugly people is over: the pressure to find pretty faces to front parties is almost irresistible"<br /><br />My time has come!Brother Gnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-5209054307555271082010-04-30T13:50:36.601+01:002010-04-30T13:50:36.601+01:00"The era of politics being showbiz for ugly p..."The era of politics being showbiz for ugly people is over: the pressure to find pretty faces to front parties is almost irresistible"<br /><br />As so it seems is the era of ideas and presenting those to the public. Instead whatever the public think, no matter how ignorant or stupid, is to be made party policy. Think immigration to get the picture.<br /><br />Though thinking this through as I am writing, at least you can lie about immigration but an ugly face is just an ugly face.SamGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-84963681030662252472010-04-30T13:19:17.203+01:002010-04-30T13:19:17.203+01:00" The era of politics being showbiz for ugly ..." The era of politics being showbiz for ugly people is over: the pressure to find pretty faces to front parties is almost irresistible."<br /><br />Well, that's me out, then. Anyone know where you can sell a Twitter account?Joseph Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06991791085634186698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-73281233596726475622010-04-30T12:58:45.586+01:002010-04-30T12:58:45.586+01:00"The era of politics being showbiz for ugly p..."The era of politics being showbiz for ugly people is over: the pressure to find pretty faces to front parties is almost irresistible."<br /><br />Damn well it looks like its back to planning a coup for me.Red Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00553505839836886797noreply@blogger.com